Ever wondered how you can turn your dives and snorkels into meaningful marine conservation? REEF’s Volunteer Fish Survey Project makes it easy—and fun! No training or scientific background required—just curiosity, a love for the ocean, and a desire to learn. What began in 1993 as a simple idea to collect data on fishes, much in the way birdwatchers do on land, has grown into a global effort that has resulted in the world's largest and longest-running marine life sightings database in the world.
Getting started is simple and free. You can begin surveying right away, whether you’re exploring your local ocean waters or traveling abroad. REEF offers tons of resources to help you along the way—archived Fishinars (hour-long fish ID webinars), Quizlets, and species sighting summaries from past surveys. You’ll quickly get hooked on learning which fish are which and spotting new species every time you dive. It’s even more fun with a buddy! Find a dive friend to survey with, or join a REEF Field Survey Trip—a fantastic way to meet other ocean lovers and sharpen your ID skills. All the materials you need are available in the REEF Starter Kit, available in our online store. So grab your slate, mask, and sense of adventure—and start making your dives count for science today!